Bill > SB188

This bill mandates that by July 1, 2026, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) will establish a steering committee comprised of representatives from various state departments, county human services departments, providers of qualified residential treatment programs (QRTPs) and psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs), and managed care entities, to guide the transition of services for children and youth in state custody from their current system to a managed care system. QRTPs and PRTFs are facilities that provide intensive residential treatment for behavioral health needs. The steering committee will meet monthly until July 1, 2027, to identify and recommend solutions for policy and operational challenges related to this transition, ensuring communication with all stakeholders. By April 1, 2027, HCPF, with the steering committee's input, will develop detailed policies and recommendations, adhering to federal regulations, to govern this transition, including clear roles and responsibilities for all involved parties, statewide standards for treatment authorization and care coordination, training needs, discharge planning requirements extending for at least six months post-discharge, and processes for youth in detention. HCPF is required to begin implementing this transition by July 1, 2027, and will submit quarterly reports to the Joint Budget Committee detailing the steering committee's progress and decisions, with a final report by July 1, 2028, on the outcomes and any necessary legislative or budgetary adjustments. Additionally, the bill adjusts the repeal dates for certain provisions related to basic and optional services and the statewide managed care system to align with the transition timeline.